Post-partum or post-natal depression (PND) affects one in five mothers after childbirth, and is very much a public health issue. But it is still such a taboo topic that the signs are often missed and women are left to try to cope with the condition on their own – leading in the worst cases to suicide and infanticide.

When the Bough Breaks, narrated and executive produced by Brooke Shields, sheds light on the condition and aims to break the silence that so many mothers feel compelled to keep after the births of their children.

The shocking documentary follows one mother, Lindsay Gerszt, who has suffered from PND for six years. She lets the cameras into her home and gives us a glimpse of what it’s like to live with the condition for years without reprieve as she embarks on a journey to recovery.

We also meet women who have resorted to the unthinkable, and families who have lost their loved ones to suicide because of PND. Celebrities interviewed include singer Carnie Wilson and The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Peggy Tanous.

If you or someone you know has gone through the depths of PND, this eye-opening documentary is a must-watch; and if you’ve ever wondered how women get through the days and nights of new motherhood, it’s just as necessary. But you’ve been warned – it is not an easy watch, and you should have the tissues handy.